Nawaz Sharif barred from contesting by-election (Lead)

Xinhua Islamabad, June 23 (Xinhua) A full bench of the Lahore High Court Monday disqualified former Pakistani prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif from contesting by-elections, Dawn News TV channel reported. The three-bench full court, however, has conditionally allowed Shahbaz Sharif, who is the chief of PML-N and younger brother of Nawaz Sharif, to hold office of chief minister of Punjab province. Xinhua